Materials glossary / Glass, crystal and resin
Acrylic
On the label: Acrylic · Glass, crystal and resin
What it is
A hard clear plastic (PMMA) used for inexpensive beads, 'lucite' and lightweight statement pieces; scratches easily, can be polished.
Glass, crystal and resins: Glass, crystal and enamel: the honest, inexpensive end of jewelry, when called what it is.
Wikidata: Transparent thermoplastic, commonly called acrylic. Q146123 →
In the research
2,139 PubMed papers mention it with jewelry, allergy, eyewear or UV; the three most recent:
- Hypersensitivity and Allergic Reactions to PMMA-Based Acrylic Dental Materials in Patients and Dental Personnel: A Narrative Review · Journal of clinical medicine, 2026
- Beyond visual acuity: one-year refractive and vision-related quality-of-life outcomes after phakic intraocular lens surgery in highly myopic eyes · BMC ophthalmology, 2026
- In-the-Bag Stability of a New Hydrophilic Acrylic Toric Intraocular Lens · Journal of refractive surgery (Thorofare, N.J. : 1995), 2026
A paper is a paper, not a verdict: titles are listed so you can read them, and a study on one fabric or one filter says little about the piece in your hand.
Pieces whose listing names it
8 on the siteMatched from the words in the supplier's listing; the full material line is on each product page.
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Other glass, crystal and resins
Clasp & Lens describes materials from the public record and does not appraise, grade or test pieces; what a listing states is the supplier's statement. If a piece causes a rash, take it off; a reaction that spreads or blisters is a doctor's question, and sunglasses are no substitute for impact-rated eye protection where that is required.